The Rundown

By Allen David

Why can’t local government think outside the box. In one corner we have Wildomar Patients Compassionate Group, an outfit that wants to do nothing more than simply provide high-grade, divinely cultivated medicine to patients who need it. In another corner are those big baddies from City Hall, a place full of meanies and spoil sports who want WPCG to shut its doors for good, and has the nerve to cite Wildomar’s moratorium on dispensaries. And they sure as heck sound like they’re not gonna budge an inch. “We’re going to enforce the city’s ordinance,” declares Wildomar City Manager Frank Oviedo. “There is no other option. We can’t ignore our own laws.” There you go, Frankie—going with that silly orthodox thinking. No other option? Can’t ignoreyour own laws? Buddy, you’ve got a lot to learn about what government can and can’t get away with. Ease up on the cannabis hating, Frankie.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 1

Stay the eff out of Temecula. And I don’t just mean that to my Muslim brothers and sisters. First, in case you hadn’t heard, Temecula really likes to throw out the welcome mat when it comes to places of worship . . . but only if the place of worship has a big-o Jesus out in front of it. For mosques? Sorry, no love. The folks on the city’s Planning Commission are the lucky few that get to spend five hours listening to more than 80 speakers who cheered or jeered over the prospect of—gasp—that wacky thing called “freedom of religion.” From the sounds of things, the issue brings out all the Tea (Bagging) Party types, Islamaphobes, 9/11 conspirators and Obama birthers (“Mosque Must Be Stopped,” screams one protest sign. “No Sharia Law,” says another) to do some spleen-venting. What—you thought New York City was the only place for douche bag, religious bigots? Thanks, Temecula. The object of hate? On paper, it’s a two-story mosque envisioned for a 4.3-acre site to the city’s northeast. But the reality: Islam. Muslims. In fact, the anti-Allah vitriol and poison sound so bitter, a commissioner has to man up, speak up and lay down the law. “Ignorance of the facts breeds fear, fear breeds hatred,” Commissioner John Telesio say. Hmmmm. Ignorance. Fear. Hatred. Hey, Temecula, are you in the market for a new city motto? “Old Traditions, New Opportunities” just sounds so yesterday.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2

Loma Linda Mayor Rhodes “Dusty” Rigsby sure has a funny way of telling folks why his city is so unique. During his State of the Community address, before a group of roughly 200 Chamber of Commerce types, Rigsby points out the highlights: the opening of an $18 million water treatment plant. The establishment of a wildlife habitat along San Timoteo Creek. Improvements to a trail in the South Hills. But the crown jewel is this gem from Rigsby’s lips: “We have the best quality streets in Southern California. You can blindfold yourself and drive in any direction and when you start hearing rumbles coming through your tires, you’ll know that you have exited Loma Linda.” Actually, when you notice folks are actually doing stuff on Saturday, then you know you’ve left Loma Linda.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 3

Finally. The Lakers, after having to deal with the utter humiliation of four straight losses—a feat not repeated since 2007—finally get back into the swing of things, delivering some (thank god) defeat to the Sacramento Kings. But the Kings’ defense is majorly sucky, so the Purple and Gold Gods don’t have to try too hard to spot up or take it to the hoop. Still…it’s nice to end a Lakers game with a victory. Seriously.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4

No Lakers game. Bummed.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 5

Still bummed.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 6

With all the hate spewing out of Temecula, with a white supremacist recently running for a spot on the Rialto school board and with Riverside showing its homeless population a new definition of community policing (it’s called throwing your crap into Fairmount Lake, in case ya didn’t know), it’s nice to note that someone is doing something to bring a voice of reason to our addled region. Someone to bring some—dare I say it?—tolerance and understanding to the community. And that someone is Ashlee Bartman, who just happens to be a 17-year-old senior at Hemet’s Tahquitz High School, who just happens to describe herself as bisexual. The teen girl also just happens to be the founder of the Gay-Straight Alliance chapter on her campus. “We want people to know that it’s OK to be gay, bisexual or be friends with people who are gay,” Bartman says. And she’s not the only one who feels this way. Daniel Solis, the Southern California program manager for the Gay-Straight Alliance Network, echoes the sentiment. “The subject goes from being a taboo subject that isn’t talked about to being one that is discussed. It makes the conversation happen. It brings the issue out of the closet.” Out of the closet? Really, Daniel? Ya couldn’t think of a better, more original phrase? I’m just sayin’…